Art historian explains why truly ‘reading’ Mark Rothko’s abstract paintings makes people cry
Mark Rothko's abstract paintings use soft-edged rectangular forms in carefully chosen color combinations that evoke emotional responses in viewers. Art historians argue that understanding Rothko's work requires engaging with the psychological effects of his color relationships and compositional choices rather than treating the paintings as simple geometric shapes.
Read full story →16 jaw-dropping wildlife photos from the 2026 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition
A photographer waited 17 hours in freezing conditions to capture a polar bear photograph. The image was among 16 wildlife photos selected for the 2026 BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition.
On 9/11, hundreds of ordinary boat captains carried out the largest maritime evacuation in history
Hundreds of ordinary boat captains evacuated 500,000 people from Manhattan to safety in just 9 hours on September 11. Fishing boats, tugboats, and personal sailboats participated in this largest maritime evacuation in history.
First Permit to Clean Up Old Mine Waste Issued for WA State Under 2024 ‘Good Samaritan Act’
The EPA approved the first permit under its 2024 Good Samaritan law to remediate abandoned mine waste. Trout Unlimited, a fishing and conservation nonprofit, received this permit to clean up old mine workings in Washington State.